EP0967833A2 - Beschallungssystem mit Gebietsisolatorsschaltungen - Google Patents

Beschallungssystem mit Gebietsisolatorsschaltungen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0967833A2
EP0967833A2 EP99305005A EP99305005A EP0967833A2 EP 0967833 A2 EP0967833 A2 EP 0967833A2 EP 99305005 A EP99305005 A EP 99305005A EP 99305005 A EP99305005 A EP 99305005A EP 0967833 A2 EP0967833 A2 EP 0967833A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
signal
circuit
wires
fault
signal wires
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP99305005A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0967833A3 (de
EP0967833B1 (de
Inventor
Eric c/o Protec Fire Detection Plc Priest
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Protec Fire Detection PLC
Original Assignee
Protec Fire Detection PLC
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Protec Fire Detection PLC filed Critical Protec Fire Detection PLC
Publication of EP0967833A2 publication Critical patent/EP0967833A2/de
Publication of EP0967833A3 publication Critical patent/EP0967833A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0967833B1 publication Critical patent/EP0967833B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R29/00—Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements
    • H04R29/007—Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for public address systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R27/00—Public address systems

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to a public address system and in particular, but not exclusively, to a public address system used as a voice alarm speaker network in conjunction with a fire or safety alarm system.
  • a public address system comprises a plurality of speakers positioned at convenient locations around building or other site, each coupled to a central control unit including an audio amplifier for driving a audio signal to the speaker units. It is desired to minimise the amount of wiring in a system, in order to minimise cost and complexity and to improve long term reliability. Ideally, it is desired to use a single pair of signal wires coupled to each speaker unit, with the speaker units typically being coupled across the signal wires in parallel. Using a single pair of signal wires minimises cabling costs and aids discrete installation. However, this arrangement has minimal redundancy and a fault such as a short circuit may occur at any point along the signal wires, leading to a malfunction of the system.
  • a short circuit fault generally means that the system must be shut down in order to avoid damage to sensitive components, such as the audio amplifier.
  • An open circuit fault for example due to an accidental break in the signal wires, can often be tolerated, but loud speakers positioned after the break do not receive an audio signal.
  • an isolator circuit for use with signal wires, comprising: fault detection means for detecting a fault condition on the signal wires; and interrupt means for interrupting the signal wires, the interrupt means being responsive to the fault detection means.
  • the isolator circuit is locatable in use in series at a predetermined position along the signal wires.
  • the signal wires comprise a pair of signal wires suitable for delivering an audio signal to an audio output unit such as a loud speaker unit.
  • the loud speaker unit is preferably part of a public address system, ideally a voice alarm system for use with a fire or other alarm condition detecting system.
  • the fault detection means comprises switch means for switching to a fault detected state when a predetermined fault condition is detected on the signal wires.
  • the switch means is a latched or gated switch.
  • the fault detection means detects a short circuit fault condition on the signal wires, preferably by distinguishing between a normal high resistance load and a fault condition low resistance load.
  • the fault detection means is an overcurrent tripout switch. the overcurrent tripout switch preferably determines a short circuit fault condition when a load current on the signal wires exceeds a predetermined limit.
  • the interrupt means is arranged to operatively interrupt at least one of the signal wires in response to a fault condition being detected by the fault detecting means.
  • the interrupt means may take any suitable form, but conveniently comprises a relay.
  • the relay is arranged to interrupt one of the signal wires and, when closed, to complete a signal path from an input of the isolator circuit to an output of the isolator circuit.
  • the relay has contacts which are normally open, and which are held closed in normal operation to complete the signal path.
  • the relay is driven by a constant current source, which operates in response to the fault detecting means.
  • the isolator circuit further comprises filter means for filtering a non-audio pilot signal carried on the signal wires from an audio signal carried on the signal wires.
  • the pilot signal is used to power the isolator circuit.
  • the pilot signal is a supersonic signal or a subsonic signal, and ideally is a direct current signal.
  • the fault detection means determines a fault condition when the pilot signal is not present.
  • the normally open relay is held closed by the pilot signal, and will interrupt the signal path when the pilot signal is not present because no power is then supplied to the isolator circuit.
  • an isolator for receiving a non-audio pilot signal carried on an audio signal wire, the isolator circuit for interrupting a signal path along the signal wire when the pilot signal is not present.
  • the isolator circuit draws power solely from the pilot signal to thereby complete the signal path when the pilot signal is present.
  • the isolator circuit is locatable with a first signal wire coupled to an input thereof and a second signal wire coupled to an output thereof, the isolator circuit for completing a signal path between the first and second signal wires.
  • the first and the second signal wires operatively deliver an audio signal to one or more loud speaker units.
  • the isolator circuit preferably detects a fault on either the input or the output side thereof. That is, the fault detecting means requires a high resistance signal path on both the input side and the output side of the isolator circuit in order to complete the signal path.
  • the isolator circuit interrupts the signal path if a short circuit fault condition is determined on either the input side or the output side of the isolator circuit.
  • sensitive components such as an audio amplifier, a booster unit, or a speaker unit coupled to one side of the isolator are protected from a short circuit fault occurring on the other side of isolator.
  • the isolator circuit derives power from a pilot signal available at either side of the isolator circuit.
  • the filter means comprises an OR gate for selecting a pilot signal present at either the input side or the output side of the isolator circuit, or both.
  • the filter means comprises a low pass filter for filtering a direct current pilot signal from an alternating current audio signal.
  • a public address network comprising an audio signal driver for driving an audio signal onto a pair of signal wires for delivery to one or more loud speaker units; and a pilot signal driver for driving a pilot signal onto the signal wires for delivery to one or more isolator circuits.
  • the network comprises at least one isolator circuit as described above.
  • the or each isolator circuit is arranged to operatively isolate a section or zone of the signal wire.
  • the network comprises a driver unit comprising the audio driver and the pilot signal driver; a plurality of loud speaker units coupled in parallel across the signal wires; and at least one isolator circuit for dividing the signal wires into a plurality of sequential sections.
  • the or each loud speaker unit produces an audible output in response to the audio signal.
  • the or each loud speaker unit comprises means for filtering the audio signal from the signal wires conveniently being in the form of a band pass filter.
  • the loud speaker filter conveniently comprises an AC only filter such as a capacitor.
  • the isolator circuits are preferably arranged to detect a fault condition in at least one adjacent signal wire section, and preferably in either of two adjacent sequential sections.
  • the isolator circuit interrupts the signal path as a failsafe condition and completes the signal path only if the pilot signal is present and no fault condition is detected.
  • the network comprises a monitor circuit for determining that the pilot signal is present on the signal wires.
  • the monitor circuit is an end of line circuit arranged to terminate the sequential sections of signal wires. That is, the end of line monitor circuit determines that the pilot signal has successfully been driven along the entire length of the signal wires and is present at all parts of the desired signal path.
  • the monitor circuit determines a normal operating condition.
  • the monitor circuit provides status output information, such as a green LED, to indicate a normal operating condition.
  • the network further comprises a fault control circuit, conveniently arranged in the signal path after the driver circuits.
  • the signal wires are physically arranged to form a circular loop such that the end of line monitor and the fault control circuit may be arranged in a single control housing.
  • the fault control circuit preferably comprises a fault monitor for detecting when an earth fault is present, and preferably providing operator feed back such as by illuminating an LED.
  • the fault control circuit comprises a fault type detector for providing operator feed back, such as by illuminating LEDs, in response to a detected short circuit or open circuit fault condition.
  • the fault control circuit comprises a short circuit detector for, conveniently, detecting the current drawn by the load on the signal wires, the short circuit detector for entering an overcurrent tripout state when the load current exceeds a predetermined limit.
  • an open circuit fault is detected by the end of line monitor circuit, i.e. because the pilot signal does not reach the monitor circuit, and a short circuit fault detected by the short circuit detector, i.e. because the load current exceeds a predetermined limit.
  • the pilot signal is interrupted, thereby causing each isolator circuit to interrupt the signal path. That is, the network is temporarily shut down in order avoid damage to any sensitive components.
  • a delay circuit is provided to re-start the network after a predetermined delay, preferably of the order of one to ten seconds.
  • the audio signal and the pilot signal are driven to both ends of the signal wires simultaneously.
  • a public address network wherein, in a normal operating condition, audio and other signals are driven on to one end of a series signal path, and, in a fault condition, the signals are driven onto both ends of the series signal path.
  • the pilot signal is received by a first isolator unit in the signal path and the isolator unit completes the signal path if no short circuit fault is detected on either side thereof.
  • the pilot signal then reaches the second isolator circuit in the series which, if a short circuit condition is detected on one side thereof, will not complete the signal path beyond that isolator circuit. That is, in the fault-tolerant operating condition the signal path is completed up to, and terminated by, an isolator unit having the short circuit condition in a section of signal path adjacent thereto.
  • the network functions correctly up to the fault detecting isolator circuit without causing damage to any sensitive components.
  • the majority of the network can be completed with only a short section containing the fault condition being isolated.
  • the network still operates and continues to provide, for example, a voice alarm message to occupants of a building where an alarm condition such as a fire has been detected.
  • the audio signal is driven from both ends of the signal path, it will still reach all parts of the network even if a open circuit condition occurs. That is, the audio signal will travel along the signal path from both directions up to the position of the open circuit fault.
  • a public address network for producing an audible signal from a plurality of loud speaker units.
  • a public address network can be used to warn of an alarm condition and give information to the occupants of a building.
  • a preferred schematic layout is shown for a network 10 comprising a control station 11 having an amplifier for driving an audio signal 14 and a pilot signal 15 on to signal wires 12.
  • the signal wires 12 are divided into sections 12a, 12b, etc., by isolators 20. Each section is provided with one or more loud speaker units 16 or other devices.
  • the pilot signal 15 is detected by each isolator unit 20 which, in response, completes the signal path between relevant sections e.g. 12a, 12b of the signal wires.
  • a successful operating condition is determined when the pilot signal 15 reaches an end of line monitor 13.
  • the audio signal 14 is supplied to each of the speaker units 16 arranged in parallel across the signal wires 12 such that, for example, an alarm message is heard simultaneously throughout a building.
  • each isolator unit 20 is of identical construction.
  • the isolator unit 20 comprises a relay 21 whose contacts are arranged to lie in a signal path between an input coupled to a first signal wire section 12a and an output coupled to a second signal wire section 12b.
  • the signal wires 12a and 12b form adjacent sections to the isolator unit 20.
  • the relay 21 operates in accordance with a control signal from a relay driver circuit 22 which is coupled to a short circuit detector unit 23.
  • the short circuit detector 23 comprises a voltage sensor for determining the load current drawn by an output section of the isolator, i.e. on the signal wires 12b.
  • the short circuit detector is arranged to sense voltage developed across both the output load 12b and the input load 12a, such that the isolator circuit may operate bidirectionally.
  • the signal wires 12 carry both an audio signal 14 and a pilot signal 15.
  • the pilot signal is preferably a non-audio signal such as a subsonic or supersonic signal, and ideally a direct current signal.
  • each isolator unit comprises means for detecting the pilot signal 15, suitably a low pass filter 24.
  • the low pass filter 24 recovers the direct current component from the signals received at the input 12a to produce a direct current power supply, suitably of around 50 volts DC.
  • the active current source (or constant current generator) 221 supplies a predetermined constant current through a relay driver 222 to the coil of a relay 21 to keep the normally open contacts thereof closed and thereby complete the signal path.
  • the constant current generator 221 provides a current of about 10 milliamps thereby underrunning the coil of relay 21.
  • less power is dissipated and relay life expectancy is improved despite the relay coil being powered for most of the time in a normal operating condition.
  • pilot signal 15 is not present at the input 12a to the isolator 20
  • no power supply is provided through the low pass filter 24 and the contacts of relay 21 remain open to interrupt the signal path through the isolator.
  • the relay driver 222 When the short circuit detector 23 detects a short circuit on the output line 12b, the relay driver 222 is switched to divert current from the coil of relay 21, thereby opening the contacts of the relay and interrupting the signal power through the isolator.
  • the DC pilot signal 15 can be obtained from the first signal wire input 12a through a first low pass filter comprising inductor Ll and capacitor C2, or from the second signal wire input 12b through a second low pass filter comprising a second inductor L2 and a second capacitor C3.
  • the DC pilot signal is supplied to power the remainder of the isolator circuit through a diode OR gate formed from diodes D1 and D2.
  • the inductors L1 and L2 preferably have an inductance of approximately 90H, i.e. a relatively large value, to minimise loading of the isolator circuit on the audio components of the network.
  • the short circuit detector 23 comprises an AND gate formed of diodes D4 and D6 coupled to either side of the isolator 12a and 12b. Therefore, a single short circuit detector can be used, comprising zener diode Z1, bias resister R1 and power transistor T1. The relay 21 is closed only if the short circuit detector 23 detects a high resistance on both sides of the isolator 20, and, otherwise, the relay remains open.
  • the audio signal 14 is driven onto the signal wire loop 12 through a transformer TX1.
  • the transformer TX1 is a 100V line transformer taking an audio signal input from an audio amplifier 114 and providing this to both ends of the signal line loop 12.
  • a pilot signal driver 115 is used to superimpose the pilot signal, in this example a DC signal of about 65 volts, onto the loop 12 alongside the audio signal 14.
  • Each loudspeaker unit 16 on the loop 12 filters out the pilot signal 15, such as by using a decoupling capacitor, to leave only the audio signal 14. Therefore, the pilot signal 15 does not affect the audio signal 14.
  • the pilot signal 15 travels from one end only all the way along the signal line loop 12 to reach an end of line monitor 13 which produces a normal condition signal and operator feedback, such as a green LED.
  • a control circuit 14 provides operator feedback, such as a red LED, and closes line relays RLA1 and RLA2. As shown in Figure 5, closing relays RLA1 and RLA2 connects both ends of the loop 12 (shown as A and A', and B and B', respectively) such that the pilot signal 15 is now supplied to both ends of the loop 12.
  • the network is therefore able to detect an open circuit fault and maintain full operation.
  • the control circuit 14 comprises a global overcurrent trip detector 141 for detecting a short circuit on the network. If a short circuit is detected by the overcurrent trip circuit 141 or if the pilot signal does not reach the end of line circuit 13, the control circuit 14 causes the network to be shutdown, thereby avoiding possible damage to sensitive components such as the audio amplifier 114. The pilot signal 15 no longer reaches any of the isolators 20, each of which thereby isolate respective sections of the signal wire loop 12.
  • reboot circuit 143 causes the pilot signal 115 and the audio signal 114 to be reapplied to the signal loop 12.
  • the isolators 20 will each in turn assess adjacent sections of the signal loop 12 for the short circuit fault, and reconnect the signal path only if the short circuit fault does not occur in the adjacent line sections. For example, referring again to Figure 1, isolator 20b tests for a short circuit in sections 12a and 12b and will connect the signal path 12a to 12b only if no short circuit is detected.
  • line relay control circuit 142 will, in this fault condition, close line relays RLA1 and RLA2 such that the pilot signal 15 is driven from both ends of the loop 12.
  • the pilot signal 15 and the audio signal 14 thereby reach all parts of the signal loop 12, except for the section containing the short circuit fault which is isolated by isolator units 20 at either side thereof.
  • a public address network has been described which detects and tolerates open circuit and short circuit fault conditions safely and economically, and which maintains operation of the network despite such fault conditions. Minimal additional circuitry is required, and, advantageously, only a single pair of signal wires are required.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Monitoring And Testing Of Transmission In General (AREA)
  • Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)
  • Alarm Systems (AREA)
EP19990305005 1998-06-27 1999-06-25 Ein Verfahren zum Betreiben eines Beschallungssystems mit Gebietsisolatorschaltungen Expired - Lifetime EP0967833B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9813882 1998-06-27
GBGB9813882.9A GB9813882D0 (en) 1998-06-27 1998-06-27 Public address system having zone isolator circuits

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0967833A2 true EP0967833A2 (de) 1999-12-29
EP0967833A3 EP0967833A3 (de) 2004-03-17
EP0967833B1 EP0967833B1 (de) 2012-10-24

Family

ID=10834486

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19990305005 Expired - Lifetime EP0967833B1 (de) 1998-06-27 1999-06-25 Ein Verfahren zum Betreiben eines Beschallungssystems mit Gebietsisolatorschaltungen

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP0967833B1 (de)
GB (1) GB9813882D0 (de)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006050754A2 (en) * 2004-11-09 2006-05-18 Robert Bosch Gmbh Public address system
EP1777988A2 (de) * 2005-10-20 2007-04-25 Protec Fire Detection Plc Verbesserungen an einem Beschallungssystem mit Gebietsisolatorsschaltungen
FR2895203A1 (fr) * 2005-12-21 2007-06-22 Chantiers De L Atlantique Sa Dispositif de sonorisation et navire comportant le dispositif
WO2014013530A1 (en) * 2012-07-20 2014-01-23 Toa Corporation Public address system and monitoring device for a public address system
US20140029754A1 (en) * 2010-10-04 2014-01-30 Novar Gmbh Method for operating a public address system
US9197339B2 (en) 2011-03-25 2015-11-24 Astrea Intellectueel Eigendomsrecht B.V. Isolator device for passing through a signal
EP2381703A3 (de) * 2010-04-21 2016-06-01 Robert Bosch GmbH Verfahren und Einrichtung zur Überwachung einer Lautsprecherlinie
US11509351B2 (en) 2017-08-11 2022-11-22 Carrier Corporation Earth fault localization

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3627960C1 (en) 1986-08-18 1987-09-03 Philips Patentverwaltung Monitoring device for loudspeaker installations

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3989908A (en) * 1975-06-26 1976-11-02 General Signal Corporation Speaker supervision in a public address system
GB2299238B (en) * 1995-03-22 1997-06-11 Audix Communications Limited Loudspeaker and loudspeaker system

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3627960C1 (en) 1986-08-18 1987-09-03 Philips Patentverwaltung Monitoring device for loudspeaker installations

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101422052B (zh) * 2004-11-09 2011-10-05 罗伯特·博世有限公司 公共广播系统
US8265294B2 (en) 2004-11-09 2012-09-11 Robert Bosch Gmbh Public address system utilizing power transmission medium communication
WO2006050754A2 (en) * 2004-11-09 2006-05-18 Robert Bosch Gmbh Public address system
WO2006050754A3 (en) * 2004-11-09 2009-04-30 Bosch Gmbh Robert Public address system
EP1777988A2 (de) * 2005-10-20 2007-04-25 Protec Fire Detection Plc Verbesserungen an einem Beschallungssystem mit Gebietsisolatorsschaltungen
GB2432091A (en) * 2005-10-20 2007-05-09 Protec Fire Detection Plc Fault tolerant public address system
EP1777988A3 (de) * 2005-10-20 2008-05-28 Protec Fire Detection Plc Verbesserungen an einem Beschallungssystem mit Gebietsisolatorsschaltungen
GB2432091B (en) * 2005-10-20 2009-06-17 Protec Fire Detection Plc Improvements to a public address system having zone isolator circuits
EP1802175A1 (de) 2005-12-21 2007-06-27 Aker Yards S.A. Vorrichtung zur Schallaufzeichnung und Schiff, das diese Vorrichtung umfasst
FR2895203A1 (fr) * 2005-12-21 2007-06-22 Chantiers De L Atlantique Sa Dispositif de sonorisation et navire comportant le dispositif
EP2381703A3 (de) * 2010-04-21 2016-06-01 Robert Bosch GmbH Verfahren und Einrichtung zur Überwachung einer Lautsprecherlinie
US20140029754A1 (en) * 2010-10-04 2014-01-30 Novar Gmbh Method for operating a public address system
US9462401B2 (en) * 2010-10-04 2016-10-04 Novar Gmbh Method for operating a public address system
US9197339B2 (en) 2011-03-25 2015-11-24 Astrea Intellectueel Eigendomsrecht B.V. Isolator device for passing through a signal
WO2014013530A1 (en) * 2012-07-20 2014-01-23 Toa Corporation Public address system and monitoring device for a public address system
US11509351B2 (en) 2017-08-11 2022-11-22 Carrier Corporation Earth fault localization

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0967833A3 (de) 2004-03-17
GB9813882D0 (en) 1998-08-26
EP0967833B1 (de) 2012-10-24

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